Lead partner at De Brauw, Kees Peijster, commented: “Fortis is a new client for us. We were invited to Brussels to meet with the consortium and did not have to complete a formal pitching process. The relationship is young, we have been working with Fortis for just seven months but we are confident this relationship will continue.”

The three-bank consortium also instructed Slaughter and May, Uria Menendez and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. Shearman & Sterling also picked up a mandate advising RBS on US aspects of law.